Hence, ADAMTS4 seems to promote atherosclerosis at least partially by promoting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as GM-CSF, CCL2, and CXCL12, all of which function in promoting monocyte/macrophage recruitment, differentiation, proliferation or survival25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. Here, CXCL12 is linked to atherosclerosis.